Lena Waithe

Emmy winner Lena Waithe is a writer, actress, comedian, producer and one of Hollywood’s most promising up-and-coming talents. Expertly tapping into emerging cultural sensibilities with a sharp wit, she speaks to myriad experiences from her unique perspective and challenges audiences to think outside of conventional norms.

A Chicago native, Waithe first made headlines in front of the camera as Denise, friend to Dev (Aziz Ansari) in the critically acclaimed series Master of None. In a role that was originally intended for someone white and straight, Waithe has made Denise’s experience as a queer black woman uniquely her own. For the most recent season, Waithe co-wrote the “Thanksgiving” episode, for which she received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series — the first black woman to be nominated in that category.

Waithe’s additional acting credits include the shows Transparent and The Comeback, as well as the upcoming Steven Spielberg film Ready Player One. As a writer, Waithe is serving as Creator & Executive Producer of The Chi, a coming-of-age story that follows six interrelated characters on Chicago’s South Side. It will premiere on Showtime in 2018. She's also in development on the show Twenties, loosely based on her experiences navigating Los Angeles in her turbulent 20s.

Named one of the Hollywood Reporter’s “TV Breakouts,” and Variety’s “Top 10 Comics to Watch,” Waithe continues to grow her body of work with diversity, charisma and comedy.